Paper folding machine



Sept. 13, 1932. 1.. H. MORIN PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR @JKM BY M ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1932. H. MORIN 1,877,359

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE v Filed Dec. 12', 1929 5. Sheets-Sheet 2 y 2 givfgw-rora ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1932. L. H. MORIN PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1932. L. H. MORIN 1,877,359

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 x 7 y/ 9% mz 1 ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1932. 1... H. MORHN PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 "IINVENTOR Patented Sept. 13, 1932 l E P TAT FATE-N arms;

Louis H. lvronnv, or-ivnw Yemen. Y.,-,ASSIGNOR; T0 w'nsr DISIN'IEECTING come-ANY; i A oonronnrronorzlvnw YORK a a i Y page romaine MACHINE Application filed December 12, 1929. Serial 1 \T o. 4 13,461.

This invention is applicable tothe fold ing of continuous Web materials, including. webs of delicate tissue, such as'toilet paper;

The processes and mechanismsheretofore employed n the foldlng'of Web materials into P IlQS Ol" bundles in whlc'hthe material runs back and 'forth in superimposed folds," have been serviceable only f wlth materials having considerable inherent "strengthQ- PaQ per toivelin'g, for example, has been folded; and dispensed in tlllS fashion but sofar as I am'aw'vare, 1t has not been possible hereto fore to subject toilet paper to automatic foldingoperations J By my machine, it is possible continuously to fold such a fiimsy and fragile tissue as toiletpaper back and forth into layers as it is fed'oif from a roll or other source. The apparatus of'niy invention also serves automatically to sever the Web after a predetermined number of folds-and to remove the folded pile or bundle from the apparatus from which it may be taken and packaged. There is thus afi'ordeda bundle eomprlsing a continuous length of paperweb folded into layers of uniform lengthfthe leading end of which'may be Withdrawn from the package and torn off into sheets of anydesired lengths. Because of the previous inability to fold and packagea continuous Web of toilet paper in this form, it has been dispensed in roll form, but When rolled itoccupies con--.

siderably morespace than it does as' a flat, folded bundle. i v

In the application of my invention-totoilet paper, I feed 'a vveb continuouslytoward folding surface and at regular intervals so selected as to take up the paper just as fast as it is fechl engage the paper alternately on opposite sides of the Web above the folding surface and bring the paper along the line of engagement down upon the surface.

Simultaneously, the folded-edge is gripped and compressed. The foldsare thereby made of even lengths and the paper is-subjected to no material strain in the folding operation,

As a machine or apparatus, my lnvention is susceptible of the folding of stronger "Web v materials, and for some materials it is not essential that the material be positively fed,

ti on contemplates that a' continousxvveb -,of

material to be folded be directed'tovvard a table or platenfand two folding blades on."

opposite sides of the [Web reciprocate tog across-the plane of the webifEachj blade at one limit of-movement comesto rest upon term grippers, overhang the opposite edges of-t'he platenvvhich are engaged by therespective folder blades, and these grippers open and (2105651; -e;,' rise and i descend "with respect to 'thesurface of the platen, in timed,

relation to the movement of the blades so that they "are "open to receive their respective fblades with the web material folded "there over and close after the entrance of the blades and remain closed after the blades are with:

drawn, following which they are caused to close "still further to compensate forthe thickness 'ofthe blades and'tocompress. the edge of thefolded pile untilthenext approachof the'respective blade. a l V 1 i a a "In orderrto accommod-ate it'self to the thick ness-of the pile as it builds up', the' platen has I aspringi'mounting so that it can yield away fromthe grippers-as fast'as 1s necessary,there being, however, a'continuous spring pressure r "gethenin the same directionjback and forth against the'gripper'smaintained at all times When the grippers :are closed, The folding blades; preferably have arcu-ate--1movement,-

and in order that they maybe-Withdrawn from under thegrippjers Without a loosening of a the, I grippers, the 'blades are preferably yieldable, being mounted to rotateiupon longitudinal axis and being resiliently urgecl against a stop in the'direction avvayfrom-the platen While they ma yield 'tovvardthe platen? I provide'a double platen which may berefversed the endof a foldingfoperation so sible position-dor removal; while the empty In order to provide a niinimum of tion in the continuous'oper'ation of thelina chine for "the removal of the-finishedbundlea caste loringthefolded package'to acces Inc c0 the platen and as it" retreats it rises from the Y platen surface. Presser members, Which I tinued during the change just describedand the lever connection and to hold the-platen downresiliently against itssupport when-the 1 for this purpose my invention contemplates the interruption of the feeding operation. This ma be done by temporarily unclutcln ing the feeding mechanlsni from the power shaftof the machine, the connection being again automatically restored as'soonasth:

reversal is effected.

In the form of apparatus which I employ at present, the reversible platen is' -mounted on a support which is slidable in vertical guides in thefmachine, being'lowered and raised at the propeli timesby means of a lever connected for the purpose, Suitablegpositioningj means on the platen and its support inter engage toassure the proper work pos1t1on of the platen, and as the support is lowered, the

platen travels down with itnntil near the end of the'movement when-the platen is stopped and the support travels just enough further to disengage the positioning means and permit the platen to be reversed; As the support is raised, the positioning means again Eengage in thenew position and the.

plat'en'moves up with the support to the workinglevel. Springs are provided toxurge the support upward to a definite distance from two are inthe working position.

The web severing means and the platen.

I lowering and reversing means come into op' erationonlyat the end of each predetermined foldingoperation, and as soon as-theyhave.

performed their function they again remain inactive until" the neXt pile is folded. For

Y after their operation;

. features of construction which will herein-' this, purpose I employ an impulse. device 'which is actuated periodically and after a predeterminednumber of actuations serves to operate atrip device which-is in control of the enabling mechanismfor thesevering and the platen 'loweringxand reversing means. Suitable automatic means, such as a" single rotation th rowout, disables the said means A The apparatus also includes many other after appear in connection with the descripti'on" of theillustrated. embodiment of. the invention. The apparatus which is shown in the drawings constitutes one physical "embodiment of the invention. .I shall now do scribe my invention in connection'withthese drawings, it being understood that the illus} trated ap'paratusis presented. merely as an example of one embodimentpof the invene tionand thatjthe inventionas .anq-apparatus may-be variously otherwise embodied;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

1 Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 2A is an enlarged sectional detail of the upper end of one of the link bars carrying one of the folding blades;

.Fig. '3 is a broken longitudinalsectional elevation ofthe apparatus; I

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken generally on the irregular line 44;'of

- Fig.2, but with. portions broken away; I Fig. 5 is an enlargedsectional detail on" line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a'section on and 5;

line '66 of 4E 77 of Fig.5;

Fig. 8-is a. fragmentary horizontal sectional detail-showing in plan the platen and immediately associated parts;

- F ig. 9 is a horizontalfragmentary sec tional detail oftherackf andpinion conimmediately associated parts. H

The machine-has two side'frame members 1 and 2. Journaled in these are three shafts,

two inthe front of the machine, one above.

theother, andone at the rearof the machine.

The upper front-shaft3 is the power'shaft and iscontinuously driven from any suitable source ofpower (not indicated). The other Fig- 7 is a fragmentary section on line r jstruction for reversing the platen, with their frontshaft f is immediately below the shaft 3 and parallel therewith. The rear shaft .5'is

in the horizontal planeof the shaftg and parallel therewith. two sprocket wheels 6 and .7. On the lower front shaft 4 is a sprocket wheel 8 immediate On the. power shaft 3 are V Iybeneath the sprocket wheel 6, and a pulley 9; below'the-sprocket wheel 7. A sprocket chain 10; connects the sprockets 6 and8. On q therear shaft 5 is a sprocket wheel 11. which is. connected to the-sprocket wheel 7 by sprocket chain .12. The rotation of the shaft 3 thus serves to drive, both shafts. land "5;

rubber feed rolll3 for paper 1s pivoted on the outer end of a. swinging frame 14 which ispivotedat its rear end on the shaft".

4., .Aroll of paper 15v is mountedon a holder 16 below and parallel with the feed roll1 3' and the feed roll rests by gravity upon the roll of paper. A pulley 17 on the axis of-the feed roll 13 is connected tothe pulley 9 by a belt 18'and the feed roll is thereby positively driven as the shaft 4 is rotated by the shaft 3.,

The. web of paper 19 is led through a guide 7 20 over a roll 21 which is supportedby a bracl'get 22 from the frame member 1, and

thence over. a roll 23 which is disposed di rectly over the platen and is-mounted on a bracket 24 which issupportedfrom the frame member 1., From thence the paper is direct ed downwardly towardthe platen'through a guide 25 also supportedon the bracket .ZQand I disposed, directly over the center line of th platen. The paperis subjected to light friction as .it-passes over the rolls 21 and 23by suitable members resting against the rolls, as

indicated.

The platen 26 is a flat, double length table rotatably mounted-on a central vertical axis.

' The platen rests upon a vertically slid-able support 27.. The guides 28 and 29 011 the per end against the bosses on the under side;

of the support to which the rod is pivoted.

The lower end of the rod 31 is free to slide through the pivot block on the end of 'tl'L'G'lQr ver 30, and the support isthusfree to descend with respect to the operating end of the lever against the tension. of the spring 32, -while the spr tends to hold thesupport adefinite distance above the end of the lever to which the rod is pivoted. V V

The platen 26hasa central stud or shaft depending from its under side. This shaft bears in brackets on the platen support. In the construction shown the platen support has on its under f rectan ilar housing which encloses the upper end of the connectrod and its pivotal Conn-e on withthe support. tween two integral brackets 35 and has. a block 36 securedto its front (see Fi 4 and 9); are the two beari s 37 and 38 for the platen s V 3. The shaft 33 terminates in a head at its lower end and a coil .0 .g39 surrounds thelower end of the shaft between thishead and thelower bracket 38. This spring thereore, tends to hold the platen down u on the" ion 40. This ratchet 41 has two ratchet teeth i80 apart, as is shown in Fig. 9. A pawl 42 is pivoted to the top face of the pinion ,40 in position engage in the ratchet teethz sand C9 a suitable spring (as indicatd), u the pawl resiliently toward the ratchet teeth. A.

rack 43 slides against the block 36 between the bearings 37 and 38 in engageinentwith the pinion 40. This rack is caused to slide 55 by means which willhereinafter be described ing pins to clear the support. Thisisefliect-l This housing 34 isdisposed be-- plate-n after which thelever operates in Extending out-from his-block 36' The platen is of a length which will just .g 38. This",

tom ofthe bearing 37iand the top of the pin and its movement in one direction will rotate the pinion id1y :byreason of the ratchet. and pawlconnection while "itsmovement in the opposite directionwillserve toimpart a rotation of;180 to the shafts?) and hence to V the platen. 1 On the under side ofthe platen 26 arefour positioning pins 4-4, the dispositionofwhich appears in Figs-2and4. Two of these pins are on one side ofthe axis of the platen and two are on the other side. These pins are so I disposed that they will bear against the edge.

' ofthe support 27 and hold the platen prep 7 erly aligned with the support, no matter which platen element is in service.

In order to allow of the rotation of the platen for the purpose of reversing it it is V necessary that the platenand its support be separated sufiiciently to permit the positioned by means of a stop member 45 in the path. of the head at the bottom endof the. shaft 33 (see Fig.1). When the lever 30is operated at-the end of a predetermined folding operation, and lowers the connecting r'od31 and the support to which it is connected, the

platen moves downwardly with the support until the head strikesthe stop d5, which is just before the downward limit of movement of the support. H The support 'is moved just.- enoughfarther by the lGV61 30 to clear the pins .ell l, the spring'39 being compressed to that extent. While the parts arein this pot, sition the rack 43 is;op erated to reverse the the reverse direction .to'raise the support and with it the platen to the working level, the support and platen being again brought together at the initial part of this movement.

clear the frame member 1 as it turns on its axis, "and the guides 28and 29 are cut away in the horizontal plane inwhich the platen is reversedso as to provide a clearancefor the platen; V 3 l/Vith the platenin its elevated position, theleading end of the web material isf'old ed back and forth in layers upon it by means. oftwo reciprocatingfolding blades 46 and l? on opposite sides of'the web. To reciprocate these blades :a four-bar link constructio-nis provided which is oscillatedhy an eccentric on the power shaft. "The two bars i and 49 are pivoted at their lowerends on pins 48a and 49a,,r e'spectively, which extend. between the frame members 1 and'2, the "bars being disposed adjacent the inner face of the frame member 7 Intermediate of their ends they are connected by :a link 50, and they extend at their upper ends above the, plane of the platen. An eccentric 5-1 on the shaft 3 adjacent the. inner face of the frame member 1 is connectedbya crank 52-to a lateral pin 4.86 on the bar l8 between the piv- 'otpin 48anand the link 50. l Their-otation-of 139 with their outer ends. a .46 and 47 are radially secured 1n these eXtenthe eccentric 51 thus serves to oscillate the bars 48 and 49 and thereby reciprocate their upper endswhich carrythe folding blades 46 and47, The link- 50 is somewhat shorter than the'distance, between the stationary axes 48a and 49a whereby the arcs of travel of the upper ends of the bars and hence of the folding blades and their relative synchronous speedswill vary somewhat I 7 On the upper ends of the bars 48 and 49 arev laterally extending arms or cross heads 53 and 54, respectively, the outer cnds of which terminate in'bearings 53a and 54a, re-

' spectively. Through these bearings 53a and m i 4 A1 1 1 a W are extend ace suppor m ais 01 10 s so and 56 which hear at their inner ends in they upper ends of' the link bars 48 and 49, re

spectively," and extend out beyond the bear ings 53a and 54a so as to overhang the platen The folding blades sions of the rods 55 and 56, respectively, and extendtoward each other. Theblade supporting rods are free to turn on their axesin their bearlngs, but they are resiliently held in their proper radial positions while being free to yield toward the platen. For

' in the drawings (see Fig. '2 -A). 'A coil this purpose the rods have eccentrics 57 and 58 secured'to them ust inside of the bearings 53a and 54a, whlch eccentrics engage the top faces ofthe cross heads 53- and 54,,respcc tively, andare'so shaped asto perm-it the 1.v blades to turn downwhlle llmitmg the r upward movement away from the plane of the platen to the radial positions indicated spring 59 surrounds each rod and is connect" ed at one end to the rod and at its other end to the cross'head and thus tends to urge the;

rod to the stopped position indicated 'in I Fig. 2-A. I

@verlapping the opposite edges of the platen are two pivoted'presser members or grippers 60 and 6l, the under faces of which are cushioned withrubber, shown in Figs.

" l and 3. The rear ends of these grippers are secured on rock shafts 62 and 63, respectively, which bear in the frame members 1 and 2 and are rocked by cams 64 and'65 on the shafts 3 and 5, respectively. Lever arms 66 and 67, respectively, carry cam rollers 68 and 69 res ectivel which en a e the faces 7 7 D C of the respective cams. These lever arms are provided with vertical slots through which'the shafts .3 and 5, respectively, are received, and are pivotally connected at their upper ends tooperating arms 76 and 71 for the rockshafts 62 and-63,' respectively. Springs 66a and 67a, respectively, are attached to the lower endsofthe arms 66 and 67 and urge these arms downwardly and hence bias the grippersto open position.

The cams 64 and are set; to "open and V close their grippers in succession. The high -lpartiof the cams, whichservesto hold the grippers closed, occupies at'least two-thirds of the cam face.' The'low part of the cams,

which serves to open the grippers, is rela- 'tively short, and there'is a short cam face 0 J of the grippers'will appear'clearly from Fig. I

3. The eccentric 51 has moved the bars 46 and 49 to the extreme right position in which position the blade 47 is in contact with the platen 26 except for the interposed folds of web material. The platen has receded against the tension of the spring 32 sufliciently far to allow for the thicknessof the folds already on the platen. The blade 46 is outof contact with the web inthis condition of the parts.

The Cane roller 69 is on the high-part of the cam 65 and hence is pressing the gripper 61 to its fullest extentagainstthe folded edge of the pile. 'The' cam roller esis' on the intermediate part of its cam 64 due to the presence of the blade47 under the gripper 60. Continued movement of the parts will serve to throwthe bars 48and 49'to the left; This will withdraw the blade 4? from underneath. the gripper 60, whereupon the cam roller 68 will engage the high part of the cam 64 and the grippe r 60 will be further closed upon the folded'edge of the pile. Meanwhile, the blade 46 will move toward the position indicated in dotted lines. This movement willbring thelow part of the cam 65 underneath the cam roller 69 and the gripper j aw 61 will open to the position indicated in dotted lines, The blade 46 will thus be received underneath the gripperand will 1 come to afp'osition flat upon the pile,-the blade 47 meanwhile rising to a position above the platen. The cam 65 willthen close the,

gripper 61 to the intermediate position until V the blade 46 is withdrawn from underneath 1t, whereupon the 'camwlll close the gripper to the position :now shown. In this manner the blades move back and forth and lay the web in folds upon the platen and the grippers open and close in properly timed relation to; admit the blades and vet hold the edges of the, pile. As the blades arewithdrawn from underneath the grippers, their supporting rods are rotated slightly on their axes to allow the blades to 7 remain horizontal until they are withdrawn from underneath the grippers;

The springs 59then immediately return the blades to their normal positions. V

The means for disablingthe feeding mech anism, severing the web-and lowering and reversing the platen will now be described.

Secured to the outerfacesof the frame meinbers. land 2 are auxiliary framemembers or hangers 72 and 73'which 'extendto the rear of the frame members 1 and 2 and support two transverse shafts 74and 75; 0n theouterend of the shaft 75 is a clutch throw-out cam-'76; Thesprochet wheel 8 clutched tothe shaft 4 bymean's of a clutch 7 7 (Fig. 2) and a clutch operating lever 78" is pivoted intermediate its ends'to the frame member 2and is operatively connectedto the clutch 7'7 at its front end, while itsre'ar end is; provided with a cam roller 79"which rides on the face of the card 76 by'virtu'e of the tension of the spring which tendsto holdflth'ef clutch 77 in engagement. The cam" face of the cam 76 is annular andhas one short low place. "When the cam roller is in the low place of the cam,the clutch is engaged, but

when the cam isro-tated, the rollerrides up" on the high'part of the cam and thelever 78 throws out the clutch against'the tension of the spring. In this way the connection of the feed roll 13 with the power shaft is interrupted, and, as will be seen, this operation occurs at the end of each folding operation prior'to the reversing of the "platen.

V on the shaft 75 and is periodically clutched.

'tliereto and unclutched therefrom through jacent the hub of the gear whel 83 is atwo-- The shaft 5 has a pinion 80 on its inner ends, the teeth being cut in theshaft. This" pinionSO' meshes with a gear wheel"8l on the inner end of the shaft 74. A pinion 82" on the shaft 'f'meshes with a" gear wheel 83 on the shaft 75. This gear wheel'83is loose automatic means which will now be descibed. the clutch throw-out cam 76 and also-operates the web severing. mechanism and the platen reversing mechanism. The clutching of the gear wheel 83 to theshaft there-j fore occurs at the end of each predetermined folding operation, and the'un'clutching occurs as soon as the platen has been reversed" and 18 returned to the work position.v Since the shaft 5v is continuously driven" from the power shaft, as above explained,'the shaft Tl is also continuously driven by reason of the engagement of the pinion and the intervals when it is temporarilyclutched to the shaft. 7 V V Keyed on the shaft 75 immediately adpart collar member composed of" the two parts 84 and 84a. Outside of these is acollar 85 on the shaft 75 and the three members are permanently bolted together into a unitary but separable structure.

lar member have each a circumferential flange, the two flanges being spaced apart so as to provide a circumferential groove be On its under face the two-part collar member has a longitudinal slot withintween them.

which is a sliding bolt 86, The hubofthe gear Wheel 83 hasalso a slot/ 87 in its face "t'ationfof: the shaft 75; j I It is this shaft 75 which operates The two ele ments 84: and 84a of the keyed two-part coladjacent the collar within which the bolt8'6 is adapted to engage, as" is shown, in F igs;

5' and Z; A removable pl'ate88 on thebottom of theitwo-partcollar member provides access to the "slot within which, the bolt; 70 slides. A coilspri-ng 89- is disposed in alert-1 i gitudin'al bore in the bolt and bears against? the bottom of the bore and against the colL. far 85' and tends to force the bolt toward thehuhjof the gear wheel 83 and intothe' 7 slot; 87 when that slot registers with-thehol'tl On its bottom face the bolt has a depending" wedge member 866; which extends into the c rcumferential grcove'between the flange'sof the two-part, collarmember', the flange on the collar element 84a being slotted, as shown in 5=and 7,-to allow the bolt to slide. A trip 'member which will now be described holds the bolt in retracted position during the normal operation of the machine so that 35 the gear wheelf 83' is unclutched from the shaft 7 5, but animoulse member operates the trip after a predetermined number of fold? ing movements to r'elease the bolt and thus lock'the gearwheel 83't0 the shaft" and ef- 90 fectjrotation of the shaft, and'the trip fis again automatically restored to 'positi'on'to withdraw the bolt and unclutch theshaft 75' from the power shaft after a single ref-f As shown particularly in Figs. 5 an arm 78al'extends downward fromithe; hanger 73 underneath the two-part collar} member, and directly underneath the'circ'um 1 ferentlalf groove within which is the mag-e1 0 member 86a, This arm "(3a supports a; Iver-Q tical guide 90 within whichslides a wedge: member"91. A coil spring 92 is disposed withinth eguide in a slot in the slidingwedge' member 9l andbears against a'transverse pin in the guide which passes through the "slot and* tends t'o'hold the wedge member 91 elfevat'ed' to position in the circumferential groove of the keyed collar where it will en'- gage the wedge member 86a on thesliding bolt, andthe wedge faces are so related'that the Wedge member 91 will retract' the bolt when it engages the Wedge me1nber86tt as the collar and bolt rotate with the shaft 75f A bell crank lever ,93-is pivotally attached to '1 the-lower end ofthe sliding wedge'member 91 andoperates under theinfluence of ani'rn- 'f pulse member to depress the wedge'membe'r 91. The bell crank 93"is pivotedto-jthe';

frame member 2, as shown in Figlt.

Extending between the frame members 1i and'2 and'journaled in bearings therein some whatin front of the vertical plane" of the shaft 5 and below thehorizontal plane of the shaft 75,,is a small shaft 94. Fixedon'this shaft are two: members, viz a ratchetwheel 96 and a trip-disk 97, the positionsof these being'indicated'by dot anddas'h lines in Fi'g. 4; The ratchet wheel 96 is substantiallyin the plane ofthe inner face of the gear Wheel I gear wheel 83 and the ratchet wheel 96 is thus advanced two teeth for every rotation of the '83 whilethetripjdisk 97 is just at one side of the plane of th'e upstanding arm of the bell crank "lever 93.; A tripping finger 97a is fixed, on'the side of the trip disk 97in the planefof the bell crank lever 93, andthis lever terminates at its upper free end in an overhanging nose piece in the path. of the trip finger 97a. As the shaft 94 is rotated,

' therefre,it graduallybrings the finger 97a around to the pointwhere it strikes the end 7 of the bell, crank lever and rocks this lever; on

/ member 91. 2c.

its pivot as the, finger passes and so withdraws the wedge member 91. As soon as the finger97a passes the end ofthe bell crank lever, the spring 92 returns the wedge member 91 to its elevated position, if and when the wedge 86a has rotated with the shaftv75 out of the wayrof the inner end of the wedge Extending inwardly from the auxiliary member '72 through the frame member 1 is an arm 98. The inner end of this arm 98 is hollow and affords a guide for an impulse member 99 which is mounted to slide therein in a direction longitudinally of the machine. A spring tends to hold the impulse member in a rearwardly retracted position while on its front end externally of the arm 98 is pivoted a pawl 100 which engagesin the teeth of the ratchet wheel 96. On theinner face i of the gear wheel 83 are two rollers 83adisposed, 180 apart, as is indicated in Figs. 1 and These rollers are in positionto engage the rear end of the impulse member 97 as they rotate, the rear end of the impulse member being rounded off'so' that it is pushed forward each time that it is struck by a roller 83a. In other words, the impulse member gets two impulses with each rotation of the gear wheel 83. The ratio of gearing is such that the ratchet wheel 96 will thus make a complete rotation for every predetermined {number of folds laid on the platen. Meanwhile, the bolt 86 is withdrawn by reason of the engagement of the wedge member 91 behind the wedge 86a which position is-shownin Fig. 4. The gear wheel 83 is therefore turning idly while the shaft is stationary. When the shaft 94 has been given a com leterotation by these impulse means, the v the overhanging end of the bell crank lever 93 and withdraws the wedge member 91,

Fig. 3.illustrates the parts when they are just ready to perform this operation. The

Wedge member 91 is thus withdrawn to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the finger 97a being shown in Fig. 6 as vjust ready to release thebellfcrank lever. and allow the wedge 91 to be retracted by the spring 92. As soon as the wedge 91 is withdrawn from its engagement with the, wedge 86a, the

spring urges the bolt toward the hub nger 97a engages underneath awn as soon as that. socket comes into register with the bolt. The gear wheel-83 isthus locked to thefshaft. 75 throughlthe'keyed two-partcolla'r member and rotation is there-[ of thegearwheel 83 and into the socket i fore imparted to the shaft? The wedge.

86a is thereby rotated out of-line withfthe Wedge member 91 withithe result that'the; latter moves into thepath of the wedge member 8600 under the influenceof the spring 92 When the shaft hascOmpIeted one rotation, however, the wedge 86a again engages the wedge member 91 and; the two inclined faces serve "to retract the bolt 86 and again un-ji clutch .theshaft 7 5Q In, other words,;these elements constitute what may be termed a Y single rotation clutch. 7 I I have already explained that'this single rotation of the shaft 75 serves at the initial part ofits movement to throw out the clutch 77 and disengage the feeding-mechanism by reason of the coactionof the cam 76 and the camlroller 79 011 the end of the clutch operating shaft 8. I shall now describe how this single rotation of the shaft 7 5 also serves to sever the web, depress the platen support, re verse the platenand again elevate the platen with its support, whereupon the cam roller 79 again rides .into the lowpart of the cam 76 and the feeding mechanism is again clutched to the power shaft.

the end of the shaft 7 5 opposite to the Extending rearfwardly from the rock shaft V 102 is an arm .103 on the rear end of which j is a cam roller .104 which bears against the face of the cam 101, being urgedthereagainst by the weight of the platen and platen sup port.

.A lso pivoted to the faceof the cam 101 is a crank arm 105 which is pivotally connected at its upper end'tov a block 106011 the rear face of an arm' 107, which arm, is pivoted at its lower ,end to ithe outer face of the frame member 1 so'as to swingin a vertical Y plane; The arm 107 has on itsouter side, somewhat below; its upper end, an outstanding pin 108. "The rack 43 has onits rear end a downwardly open hook shape member 109 which is disposed in the vertical plane of the pin 108, the parts being so related that the pin 108 will just escape the outer end of the hook as the hook descends and the arm 107 is rocked to the right, as shown in Fig.1, but will strike against the inner upright face of the hook. The operation will, therefore, be as follows:

\Vhen the shaft 7 5 becomes clutched to the gear wheel 83, its rotation willbe-in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1. The end of T the cam 101 will, therefore, immediately ride out from under the cam roller 104 and the cam roller will ride abruptly. up the'right race ofthe cam as the cam rotates out from, under 1t until the cam rollercoi es upon the hub portion of the cam, as is indicated in I the dotted position of the cam roller in Fig.

1. This elevation of the cam roller permits the shaft 102 to rock and allows the lever 30 to fall to the posit1on shown in dotted lines. In this position of the lever the platen support has moved down the guides to its. lowermost position and the end of the platen stud or shaft has struck the stop member 4-5 and the platen has thereby been. elevated 1 from the support for a sufficient distance to allow the positioning pins to clear the'sup-- port. Meanwhile, the movement of the crank 105 has moved the arm 107 to the right. and the pin 108 is engaged in the hook 109 and has moved the rack' to its furthermost position to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. This position of the arm 107 1s indicated 1n dotted lines in this figurev This movement of the rack, however, has been ineffective to rotate 1 the platen byreason of the ratchet and pawl connection between the pinion 10 and the shaft 33.

the rack to the left by reason of the engagement ofthe; pin 108 against the left end or, the hook 109/ This retracting of the-rack.

imparts a rotation of 180 tothepinio-n and this rotation is imparted to the shaft 33. and hence to the platen by reason of the pawl and. ratchet connection. -The platen is thereby reversed and its opposite or empty end is brought into the workposition while-the end which contains the folded pile is brought outside the machine where'it 1s accesslble. The cam roller 104 completes its travel on the hub portion of the cam 101 during this reciprocation of the rack and consequently the platen remains in its lowermost position during its reversal. When that is completed the cam roller rides up the opposite faceof the cam and operates the lever 30 to elevate 'the platen to the worklevel the pin 108 meanwhile escaping from the hookfl09 by reason of the upward movement of the hook.

The movement of the arm 107 to the right by the operation of the crank 105 serves not only to slide the rack idly to the right. but

also to sever the web. Extending outwardly from the outer faceof the frame member 1 immediately in frontof the/ platen support is a knifesupporting bracketarm 110 (Figs.

The cam roller 10%1 rides on the" hub portion. of the cam 101 during the further rotation of the cam which serves to swing the arm 107 to the left through the agency'of the crank'1'05 and thereby slide 1 and 8), on which'is secureda: knife 111 having af'serrated edge. This knife'isshown in section in Fig. 4. Theknife is contained 7 between two'rubber strips or press blocks 112, the edge of the knife extending slightly beyond the "rubber strips Extend'ng outwardly from:

frame member 11 1 and a web-severing arm 115 is pivoted on a-bracket 116 on'the outer end of this frame meinberso as toswing in 1& v

the top of the; i 0

frame member 1 is a horizontal 'U-shape.

a horizontal plane, being guided between the 1 bottom of the end'piece of the frame member 114. and an intermediate cross strip 117 The arm 115 is of such length that it engages sidewise near its inner end. withthe rubber strips 112,.and the arm is a double member with the two component arm members disposed 107. For this purpose it is connected to the top of the arm by a connecting bar 118. its thecam 101 rotates, therefore, the-crank 1 5 moves the arm 107 to; the right, as above explained, and brings the arm 115 against therubber strips 112, which position'is in,- dicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. .Theweb isthereby severed'near the work levelof the platen. At this time the platen and its, slip. port are in their lowermost position and the return movement of the arm 107 effects first a reversal of the platen and then an elevation of the platen and its'support.

It will thus be seen that while the power shaft 3 is continuously driven, the machine functions automatically to fold the web into individual piles, the quantity of which is determined by the numberof teeth on the ratchet 96, and. to sever the web at the end of the formation of each pile and reverse the platen to brmg the foldedpile out where,

it will be accessible and interpose an empty platen for the next folding operatioin the feeding of the webbeing interrupted duringll each period of reversal and until the machine is ready to resume operation to form the next pile. The invention 18 1n no wise limited to the particular mechanism illustrated for the;

purpose of performing these several functions but it is obvious that one skilledin the art may readily devise other means for accomplishing. the same results without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the-appended claims. i

Iclaimzf V r j. a

1. A web folding machine comprising a,

e otedon fixedpivots and overhanging opposite edges of the platen, means for dir -sting,

web: material toward the platen between the jaws, .tw'o folder blades on "opposite sides of the web connected to reciprocate together each to and from a position underneaththe aw on the "side of the Web opposite to it, and means for ra1s1ng and lowering the jaws in timed relation to the entrance and withdrawal-of the blade eoact-v I bars connected together andpivoted with ing therewith.

2, A web folding-machine comprising a platen, feeding means for contlnuously feeding web material toward the platen,- reciprocative' folding means-operative to fold the web upon the platen as it is fed, means to withdraw the platen and sever the web at the end of a predetermined folding operation, and means for simultaneously disabling the feeding means and enabling the withdrawing and severing means.

3. A web folding machine comprisinga double platen reversible in relative position to bring the two platen elements alternately into working relation to the web, means for Continuously feeding web material toward the platen elementin working relation thereto, reciprocative folding means operative to fold the web upon said platen'element, means for successively severin g the web and reversing the platen at-the end of each predetermined folding operation, and means forsimultaneously disabling the feedingeineans and enabling the severing and reversing means.

4. A web folding machine comprising a double platen reversible in relative position to bring the twoplaten elementsalternately 1nto worklng relation to the web, means for directing Web material toward the platen,

two folder blades on opposite sides of the web reciprocative so as to fold the web alternately in opposite directions upon the platen,

and means for successively severing the web and reversing the platen at the end of each predetermined folding operation.

5. A web folding machine comprising a double length platen constituting two platen elements and mounted to rotate upon a central vertical axls, means for directing web material toward the platen on one side ofthe axis, two folder blades on oppositesides of the web reciprocative so as to fold the web alternately in opposite directions upon the platen, and means for successively severing the web and rotating the platen 180 at the end of each predetermined folding operation.

6. A web folding machine comprising an axial support'fora roll of the web material,

a driven'friction feed roll engageable with the periphery of the roll of web material to rotate the same and positively feed off the web material therefrom, a platen and means to direct the leading end of said web mate rial toward the platen,'grip per jaws over;

hanging opposed edges of the platen, and 'reo their free ends-above the platenon opposite sides of the plane'of'the web, a folding blade extending laterally from the free end of each bar over the platen toward the web and adapted upon reciprocation to moveto and from a position underneath the gripper jaws on the side of the webopposite to it, means to reciprocate the bars, and means to open the jaws to receive the blades and to close the jaws upon the blades and interposed web ma- V terial and to hold the aws closed until after the blades are withdrawn, the blades being resiliently angularly yieldable on a longitudinal axis to allow of their withdrawal from underneath the closed gripper jaws,

8. A web folding machine comprising a V platen, means for directing web material toward the platen, gripper aws pverhanging opposed edges of the platen, two reciprocative bars connected together and pivoted with 1 their free ends above the platen on opposite sides of the plane of the web, a folding blade extending laterally from the free end of each bar over the platen i toward the web and adapted uponreciprocation to mov eito and. from a position underneath the gripper jaws on the side of therweb opposite to it, means to reciprocate the bars, and a cam device operj ative in timed relation to the reciprocation of the blades to open the jaws to receive the blades and to close the jaws to one position upon the blades and interposed web material the said platen element, means operative at in working position, reciprocative folding port, a double length platen on the support constituting two platen elements mounted to on the shaft'havinga one-way rot-ative coning web material toward the platen element" means operative to fold the web material on the said platen element, interengaging positioning means on the platen and support,

means operative at the conclusion of a pre-' determined folding operation to actuate the lever successively to lower and raise the" platen support, a stop disposed to halt the downward movement of the platen prior to that of the support and thus separate the two and disengage the positioning means, and I means operative during the lowered position of the support to rotate the platen 180 on its axis. a V

11. A web folding machine comprising ver tical guides, a platen support slidable thereon, a lever for raising and lowering the support, a double length platen on the support constituting two platen elements mounted to rotate upon a central vertical aXis to bring the platen elements alternately into working position upon the support, meansfor directing web material toward the platen element in working position, reciprocative folding means operative to fold the web material on the said platen element, interengaging positioning means on the platen and support, means operative at the conclusion of a prelever successively to lower and raise the platen support, a stop disposed to halt the downward movement of the platen prior to that of the support and thus separate the two and disengage the positioning means, a reciprocative member operative to sever the web and rotate the platen 180 on its axis, and means to actuate the reciprocative member during the lowered position of the support.

12. A web folding machine comprising vertical guides, a platen support slidable thereon, a lever for raising and lowering the support, a double length platen on the sup- 7 port constituting two platen elements mount ed to rotate upon a central vertical axis to bring the platen elements alternately into working position upon the support, means for directing web material toward the platen element in working position, reciprocative folding means operative to fold the web material on the said platen element, interengaging positioning means on the platen and support, means operative at the conclusion of a predetermined folding operation to actuate the lever successively to lower and raise the platen support, a stop disposed to halt the downward movement of the platen prior to that of the support and thus separate the two and disengage the positioning means, an axial depending shaft on the platen, a pinion n-ectiontherewith, a longitudinally slidable rack meshingwith the pinion, a reciprocative member'operative in one direction of movement'to sever theweb and slide the'rack to rotate the pinion idlyand in the opposite direction of movement to slide the rack to its original position and thereby rotate the platen 180, andimean s to actuate the reciprocative member during the lowered position ofthe support. v I I 13; A web folding machine comprising a reversible platen, feeding mechanism to feed web material toward the platen, folding inechanismfor folding the web material up-,

on tlre'platen, a power shaft, a drive connection between the feeding mechanism and the power shaft, means for reversing the platen, means for severing the web material, a secj 0nd shaft havingoperative conne'ction withr-p;

the reversing and severing means, a coupling member adapted to couple the power shaft to.

the second shaft, an impulse device operated by the'power shaft for effectuating V the coupling member at predetermined intervals,-

and means operated by the 'secondshaft for disabling the coupling member.

14. A web foldingvmachine comprisinga reversible platen, feeding mechanism to feed web material toward the platen, folding mechanism for foldingthe web materialup 'on the platen, a power shaft, a"drive;con-

meson between the feeding mechanism and -the power shaft, means forreversing the determined folding operation to actuate the platen, means for severing the web material, a second shaft having operative connection with the reversing and severing means, a

mechanism when'fthe coupling member is 0nd shaft for interrupting the drive connectionbet'weenthe power shaft and feeding effectuated and again restoring the connection when the coupling member is disabled.

15. A web folding machine comprising a reversible platen, feeding mechanism to feed web material toward the platen, folding mechanism for folding the web material upon the platen, a power shaft, a drive connection between the feeding mechanism and the power shaft, means for reversing the platen, means for severing the web material,

a second shaft having operative connection with the reversing and severing means, a gear wheel on the second shaft having operative connection with the drive shaft, a clutchrevolution throw-out device operated by the second shaft for disengaging the clutch.

16. A web folding machine comprising a platen, means for directing web material 'towards the platen, gripper jaws overhanging opposite edges of the platen, folding blades extending over the platen on opposite. sides of the plane of the web, means for reciprocating the blades to and from a posi-[ tion underneath the gripper jaws on the side of the web opposite to it, and means operative in timed relation to the'reciprocation of the blades to openthe jaws to receive the 7 blades and to close the jaws to one position and to close the jaws further after the withdrawal of the blades.

s 17. At'webfolding machine'comprising a 1 platen, means for directing web material toward theplatemfgripper jaws overhang- ,ing opposite edges of the platen, folding blades extending'over the platen on opposite sides of the plane of the web, means for re- 7,

ciprocating the blades to and from a position underneath the gripper jaws on the side of the web opposite to it, and means to open the jaws to receive the blades and to close thejaws upon the blades and interposed web material, the blades being resiliently angularlyyieldable on a longitudinal axis,

18. A web'folding machine comprisinga platen,- means for directing web material toward the platen, gripper jaws overhanging opposite edges of the platen, folding blades extending over the platen on opposite sides of theplane of the web, means for reciprocating the blades to and from a posi tion underneath the gripper jaws on the side i of the web opposite to it, the blades being resiliently angularly yieldable on a l0ngitudi nal axis, and means operative in timed relation to open thejawsto receive the blades and to close the jaws to one position upon a the blades and interposed web material, and

to close. the jaws further after the drawal of the blades. 7

In witness whereof,I hereunto my signature. 7 r I LOUIS I LMORIN.

upon the blades and interposed web material withsubscribe 

